Shoe attachment to facilitate walking



F. D. ANDERSON.

SHOE ATTACHMENT T0 FACILITATE WALKING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I7, 1918. RENEWEDHSEFLZS. 1920.

1,360,995. Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

warren STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

"FREDERICK n. ANDERSON, on DENVER, COLORADO.

SHOE ATTACHMENT 'ro FACILITATE WALKING.

Application filed July 17, 1918, Serial No. 245,278.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK D. ANDER- soN, citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Attachments to Facilitate Walking; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use'the same, ref

erence being had to the accompanying draw-. ings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this.

specification.

This invention relates to attachments for shoes to facilitate walking, running and kindred forms of locomotion, and is particularly designed for soldiers and sportsmen. I

The portions of the blades adjacent the ball of the foot are connected by a web or plate which supports the ball of the shoe, while the entire structure forward of the heel is curved from the horizontal on a curve whose radius gradually shortens asthe curve ap-; proaches the toe. Thedevice is practically; rigid, but may have a very slight degree of. resilienceto give'a slight spring to the foot when in action in order to increase the efficiency of the foot. If it Were not for thus aidingthe foot a trifle in this respect the device from a mere mechanical standpoindt could advantageously be perfectly r1 '1 I v The particular advantages of the attachmentare pointed outhereinafter, together with a discussion of the principles thereof. In the drawing: 7 Figure 1 shows a face view of the device applied to the bottom of ajshoe.

Fig. 2 shows an edge view thereof. Fig. 3is a perspective ofthe device detached. i I

Specification of Letters Patent,

leg isv thereby eliminated.

PatentedDec. 7, 1920.

Renewed September 23, 1920.- Serial No. 412,411.

Fig. 1 indicates the rolling movement and shows the footat the end of this movement and as it is aboutto leave the'ground.

The attachment maybe struck out of a sheet of metal as shown or it may be formed in any other desirable manner.

It is composed of abody portion and a heel portion, the body comprising side members or blades 5 which merge atthe front in a toe portion 6-, and a transversely arranged plate or web 7 connecting the blades adjacent the ball of the shoe and forming a support or bearing surface therefor. The blades 5 forward of the arch and the toe portion 6 lie beyond the edge of the shoe sole to pro vide a more extensive tread than that of the shoe sole itself. The rear portions 8 of the blades are-curved inwardly under the arch forming a support therefor and then extend down inyfront of the heel as at 9 and connect withthe rearwardly curved heel portion 10 which underlies the heel. 'The heel portion is provided with apertures 12 through which screws or rivets 13 are passed to secure the device to the shoe.

Upstanding'ears 14 maybeprovidedon the blades 5 at their outeredges, these ears having eyes 15 through which a strap 16 may be passed by means of which the forward portion of the device may be secured to the shoe, the strap passing over the vamp in front of the instep, as shown. 7

When the device is applied there is a narrow space between the inner edges of the blades 5 and toe portion 6, andthe edges of the sole. This space, however, is wide enough so that pebbles will not be wedged and held between the sole and the attachment. Also this space together with that between the, web 7 andtoe portion 6 allows some freedom of movement of the toes as the weight of the body is shifted and avoids tionbeing on a fulcrum which moves from thelball to the toe and being .more pronounced on the greater curvature of the toe, with the result thata considerable portion of the flexing of'the jointsof the foot and Four very important advantages accruing from the use of this invent on are set forth 7 below.

1. The movement of the leg over the foot is an even, continuous, rolling motion, performed with greater ease than in ordinary.

walking. r

In walking Without the device foot motion before the foot leaves the groundis made up of two series of motions, First, the upward and forward motion of the heel, the

shoe being bent at the ball of the foot, and, p

second, the upward and forward motion of the sole of the shoe. In normal walking without the device this second series starts [later than the motion of'the heel, and when it starts (which occurs midway of the swing of the leg over-the foot) it startsmore slowly than the heel is then traveling but gains in speed until ithascaught up with the heel bothinspeed and'relative position just as the foot leaves the ground. The bottom of the foot is at first a straight line (while flat on theground), then curved (While the heel is being carried upward and forward), and

straight again (as the foot leaves the ground). Thus, without the device, it is necessary to employ a quickened' or spas modicspring action at the latter-part of the said movement, with consequent strain on the muscles of the leg and foot. 1

When using thedevice the'footl'is placed on the approximate segment of a. circle,

and motion on thiscircular surface starts as soon as the heel leaves the ground. 'The' point of engagement with the grounc 0L fulcrummoves forward rapidly as the heel goes'up,'but evenly and with a rolling mo- .tion similar to thats-of a wheel. 'As fast as the heel is raised the up-curved toe-portionof the device goes down and engages the ground. There is, therefore, no sudden V or spasmod c spring ofthe foot whereby the point of contact ischanged rapidly from the ball of the foot along the whole surface ofthe sole of the shoe to the end of the sole,

with consequent muscular strain.

In normal walking without the device the employmentof the above'described series of motions, whereby the toes are bent and a spring or-spasmodic motion is used, local- 7 izes the efforts and pressure and this is'ac r- 'centuated when walking uphill or in run:

ning; Bym'eans offtheblades of the device, which'engage the {ground and are'ca'r-f riedi backward and attached: tothe heel, and by means of the plate or web"between the blades of the device, the efforts in locomotion and the pressure are not so'muchlocalized but'spread over the whole foot. This isof particularadvantagein going up hill, 7 against the wind, 'or while carrying a load.

It also enables one to hold back with greater ease going down hill" or before-the wind. Another result of thisspreadingefiect is to slopes is dispensed with.

afford a better support for the arch of the foot andthe ankle.

2. The bending of knee, ankle andtoes is lessened, and muscular energy consequently saved. V

muscles of leg. ankle and foot, this excessive.

bending at each step tends to chafe the toes and the foot inside the shoe. Inlocomotion with the device'the device forms a contact with the ground in the shape of the segment of a circle, and as the heel goes upthesurface'of the segment engages the ground at V successive points.- The whole foot is raised and'carried forward by this operation, with very little bending at the toes. also less bending'atthe ankle and. at the 7 There is knee oint'. This results in a saving of'muscular effortj'The toes do n-ot become tired sosoon as in normal walking and there is less chafing upon one another "and against inner part of the shoe; Goingiip. hill '7 or against the wind the advantage of. this lessened bending *islverynoticeable. The

walking on the toes often practised'on steep V 77 7 After placing the not fiat on the slopeof the ground'the upnot necessary to bend the bodyandknee d and forward rolling leverage mover t iseasily and readily performedi "It is 5 V 1 forward to.- the" extent required-on steep slopes without the: device. 'Qne very im-' portant result is that hard breathing and loss of wind are greatly cut down inhill V 11 0 not-necessary and indeednot'desirableor climbing] In'runnin'g with'the device it is possible torun on. thegtoes'.fl Advantages similar to thoseinwalkingare had. The

aforesaid lessened "bending; is notl obtained at the price of stiffne'ssorconfined positions.

The toes are free and comfortable at all I times. l

'3., T he shoe is lengthenedfwithout theiextralengthengagingthe ground unti'l it is" .7 1 -20 usable. to the best advantage resulting in a.

' longer an d quicker step. p; 7 In normal locomotion without'the device 7 thelifarther the solefofthe' shoe extends-in front of the toes up'to certain limits'the' longer and faster the step. 7 fAL'longer sole makes a lo'nger lever arm, but atthefsame time there'is'a greater strain inf performing the spring action in whichthe fulcrum .jumps to the front of thefoot. Theupward i curve of the device, which extends beyond;

V 70 In normal walking'without the device the r .toes areconsiderably,bent about midway of the point of the shoe, increases the length of the shoe, but the increased length does not engage the ground until the foot is about ready to leave the ground and in a position to use the increased length to the best advantage. The fulcrum then is extended beyond what it would be without the device. The result of the foregoing is a lengthened step, and a quickened step, with less strain and expenditure of energy than in the case of a lengthened shoe without the device. The weight and strain is distributed over the foot by the device instead of being localized as would be the case in an extremely long shoe without the device.

4. The shoe is widened and therefore negotiates soft and unusual surface conditions with great advantage.

The tendency of the foot is to be impeded and to sink while walking over sand, soft ground, mud or snow, as is well known. The device gives much the effect of a broadtired wheel and the foot does not sink so easily. Ability to negotiate rough and uneven ground is also increased by the broader surface. It is clear that this broader contact gives lateral stability to the foot and body. The advantages derived from the rolling motion, lessened bendingof toes, etc., and greater length of contact are great enough to outweigh strongly any tendency of the foot to. be retarded upon very smooth and hard surfaces by the increasedwidth.

I claim:

1. The combination with a shoe having a flexible sole, of an attachment therefor, said attachment comprising an approximately rigid body portion rigidly connected with the shoe, said portion having an upper face constituting a bearing surface on which the sole rests, and an under face constituting a tread, said body portion being curved con tinuously, and the space below the toe of the shoe being open, the opening extending beyond the edges of the sole for flexure of the toe thereof.

2. The combination with a shoe, of an at tachment therefor, said attachment being approximately rigid, comprising a body portion and a heel portion connectedby an arch section, the heel portion being rigidly and permanently secured to the heel of the shoe, the body portion having an upper face on which the sole of the shoe rests, and an under face which constitutes a tread, said body portion being continuously curved and also being free of attachment to the sole.

3. The combination with a shoe of an attachment therefor, said attachment being approximately rigid and comprising a body portion and a heel portion connected by an arch section, the heel portion being rigidly secured to the heel of the shoe, the body portion having an upper face on which the sole of the shoe rests and an under face which constitutes a tread, said body portion being curved continuously, on a gradually increasing curve and being free of attachment to the sole.

tachment therefor comprising an approximately rigid body portion rigidly connected with the shoe and having spaced side members adjacent the edges of the sole of the shoe and a web connecting said sidemembers below the ball of the shoe the space below the toe of the shoe being open, the opening extending beyond the edges of the sole for flexure of the'toe therethrough, the ball of the shoe resting upon the upper face of said web, the lower face of the web constituting a tread, said body portion being curved continuously.

6. The combination with a shoe having a flexible sole of an attachment therefor comprising a body portion connected to the shoe having side members which lie beyond the edges of the sole and are spaced from said edges to form an opening for flexure of the sole therethrough, a plate connecting portions of said side members and support ing the ball of the shoe, said plate and side members constituting a tread.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK D. ANDERSON. 

